Armor Class Mortuary Hilt Sword
Aug 12, 2011 21:55:55 GMT
Post by dirtydan on Aug 12, 2011 21:55:55 GMT
Howdy folks,
This is a review of my new Mortuary Hilt sword from Armor Class of Scotland. Dealing with them was a pleasure; all my questions were answered promptly and special requests were accepted. It was well worth the 6 month wait time, it took a couple of weeks longer then normal because I had requested a wood core scabbard. This sword would have been used by both sides during the time of the English civil war (1640s). Here's a previous review:
www.myarmoury.com/review_ac_mort.html
The packaging was a standard cardboard box with butcher paper to take up the space inside. The sword fit snugly in the box...a little too snugly as I had trouble getting it out. The blade was well greased in a plastic sheath with the scabbard right next to it.
First impressions: WTF, I payed $450 for this!? At first sight it looks really cheap and tacky. The polish is dull and slightly uneven, which makes it look like a pot-metal SLO. The scabbard does it's job of holding the sword....and that's about all that recommends it for being so ugly. The blade is so thin it looks like it had been rolled out of a mill, feels feather light with no blade presence and is whippier then a Wu Shu sword. Then I started playing around with it and found that appearances can be deceiving...
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 112dc3286f
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... d30089f525
Blade length: 33 1/4”
Handle length: 7”
Overall length: 40 1/4”
Length w scabbard: 41 1/2”
Blade thickness: 1/8”
Blade width: 7/16”
False edge length: 7 1/4”
COB: 2”
COP: 22 1/2”
Shell height: 6”
Shell width: 4 1/2”
Weight: 39.1oz
Weight w scabbard: 48.6oz
The Blade: The steel is EN45, which rusts and sharpens easily. It has a spring temper which is a bit tricky for control, but necessary for a blade so thin. It is hand forged, some hammer marks can be seen near the hilt but nowhere else. It has an unsharpened false edge of 7” and the front edge is only sharped on the last half. The tang is substantial, but alas, threaded. It has a double fuller which stops a half inch from the false edge. The polish is flat, rough and slightly uneven in places, what I imagine a munitions grade sword would have had.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 3a42e1f0e2
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 66ed09e2c3
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 1282b0fd9c
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 078b137da2
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... b6bc3412a5
The Handle: The grip is leather over carved wood with silver wire in the groove. It's very comfortable and grips nicely in either hand with either a handshake or fencing grip. The pommel is cast and machined, the shell is hammered; both are blued. The nut is recessed deep into the pommel and engages all the threads. The arms of the shell are spot welded together and screwed onto the pommel. It provides good coverage with full range of motion. The entire assembly is rock solid with no play or noise.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 4bf13b8b76
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 6fb7d79e6a
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... bb5cb2f215
The Scabbard: Not much to say here other then that it's the ugliest part of the whole package. Scabbards are an add on and the only listed choice was plain leather: I requested a wood core one which added two weeks and $80 to the deal. The leather is plain, the seam is glued and uneven with several small gaps. It came to me with several dings, likely acquired at the shop. The fit is poor and does not retain the sword at all.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 7d2053d29c
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... de8979d08d
Handling: Ah, so this is what I payed for. 2 pounds, 7 ounces isn't a feather, but with a balance point of 2 inches it sure feels like it. The blade is super responsive and moves from any guard to attack instantly. Point control is spot on and the pommel can definitely do some damage. It's so fast I'm certain I could fence with it and hold my own. The blade is so flexible though that any bad technique shows as it wobbles like a noodle.
Cutting: The edge may not be very sharp, but the thin blade makes up for that. Cardboard boxes and water bottles are the favored opponents; with a blade so thin I didn't try anything heavier. The cuts were clean with almost no resistance. Edge alignment is crucial, any deviation gave me some nasty vibrations on impact. It has good penetration on the thrust and delivers an effective snap cut.
Pros: -Handling is off the charts.
-Well built.
-Cuts cleanly on light targets.
Cons: Looks like a SLO (this might be a pro for some people).
-Crap scabbard.
-Blade is too thin for med/heavy targets.
Conclusion: Four stars (one off for the polish and scabbard). Worth the wait, worth the money. This would be my first choice if I were going to a duel.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 7432ec06a6
This is a review of my new Mortuary Hilt sword from Armor Class of Scotland. Dealing with them was a pleasure; all my questions were answered promptly and special requests were accepted. It was well worth the 6 month wait time, it took a couple of weeks longer then normal because I had requested a wood core scabbard. This sword would have been used by both sides during the time of the English civil war (1640s). Here's a previous review:
www.myarmoury.com/review_ac_mort.html
The packaging was a standard cardboard box with butcher paper to take up the space inside. The sword fit snugly in the box...a little too snugly as I had trouble getting it out. The blade was well greased in a plastic sheath with the scabbard right next to it.
First impressions: WTF, I payed $450 for this!? At first sight it looks really cheap and tacky. The polish is dull and slightly uneven, which makes it look like a pot-metal SLO. The scabbard does it's job of holding the sword....and that's about all that recommends it for being so ugly. The blade is so thin it looks like it had been rolled out of a mill, feels feather light with no blade presence and is whippier then a Wu Shu sword. Then I started playing around with it and found that appearances can be deceiving...
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 112dc3286f
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... d30089f525
Blade length: 33 1/4”
Handle length: 7”
Overall length: 40 1/4”
Length w scabbard: 41 1/2”
Blade thickness: 1/8”
Blade width: 7/16”
False edge length: 7 1/4”
COB: 2”
COP: 22 1/2”
Shell height: 6”
Shell width: 4 1/2”
Weight: 39.1oz
Weight w scabbard: 48.6oz
The Blade: The steel is EN45, which rusts and sharpens easily. It has a spring temper which is a bit tricky for control, but necessary for a blade so thin. It is hand forged, some hammer marks can be seen near the hilt but nowhere else. It has an unsharpened false edge of 7” and the front edge is only sharped on the last half. The tang is substantial, but alas, threaded. It has a double fuller which stops a half inch from the false edge. The polish is flat, rough and slightly uneven in places, what I imagine a munitions grade sword would have had.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 3a42e1f0e2
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 66ed09e2c3
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 1282b0fd9c
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 078b137da2
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... b6bc3412a5
The Handle: The grip is leather over carved wood with silver wire in the groove. It's very comfortable and grips nicely in either hand with either a handshake or fencing grip. The pommel is cast and machined, the shell is hammered; both are blued. The nut is recessed deep into the pommel and engages all the threads. The arms of the shell are spot welded together and screwed onto the pommel. It provides good coverage with full range of motion. The entire assembly is rock solid with no play or noise.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 4bf13b8b76
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 6fb7d79e6a
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... bb5cb2f215
The Scabbard: Not much to say here other then that it's the ugliest part of the whole package. Scabbards are an add on and the only listed choice was plain leather: I requested a wood core one which added two weeks and $80 to the deal. The leather is plain, the seam is glued and uneven with several small gaps. It came to me with several dings, likely acquired at the shop. The fit is poor and does not retain the sword at all.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 7d2053d29c
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... de8979d08d
Handling: Ah, so this is what I payed for. 2 pounds, 7 ounces isn't a feather, but with a balance point of 2 inches it sure feels like it. The blade is super responsive and moves from any guard to attack instantly. Point control is spot on and the pommel can definitely do some damage. It's so fast I'm certain I could fence with it and hold my own. The blade is so flexible though that any bad technique shows as it wobbles like a noodle.
Cutting: The edge may not be very sharp, but the thin blade makes up for that. Cardboard boxes and water bottles are the favored opponents; with a blade so thin I didn't try anything heavier. The cuts were clean with almost no resistance. Edge alignment is crucial, any deviation gave me some nasty vibrations on impact. It has good penetration on the thrust and delivers an effective snap cut.
Pros: -Handling is off the charts.
-Well built.
-Cuts cleanly on light targets.
Cons: Looks like a SLO (this might be a pro for some people).
-Crap scabbard.
-Blade is too thin for med/heavy targets.
Conclusion: Four stars (one off for the polish and scabbard). Worth the wait, worth the money. This would be my first choice if I were going to a duel.
www.photoshop.com/users/backofth ... 7432ec06a6